Intro:

Number four seed Jelena Jankovic was knocked out of the Apia International Sydney in the opening round by Russia's Ekaterina Makarova.

Script:

Lucie Safarova had the chance to register her fourth consecutive victory over Francesca Schiavone, in the first round of the Apia International in Sydney,

Safarova was unbeaten against the Italian on hard courts and continued that record with a convincing straight sets victory. She won both sets by 6 games to 4 to go through to the second round.

Angelique Kerber was able to stop her losing run against Dominika Cibulkova. She'd lost the previous four matches between them but this time took it in two tight sets 7-6 7-5.

Jelena Jankovic, the 2007 finalist was hoping to replicate that run against Ekaterina Makarova. But all she got was the run around.

Makarova, the world number 23, took the first set 6-4 before serving the second set out in style to take it 6-2. Jankovic will be hoping to find form in time for next week's Australian Open.